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Georgetown, MO Train Wreck, Aug 1902

A SOUTHERN FREIGHT PLUNGES INTO RAVINE AND TWO TRAINMEN ARE CRUSHED TO DEATH.

ST. LOUIS, August 24. -- A special to the Globe-Democrat from New Albany, Ind., says:
In a disastrous freight wreck on the Southern railroad near Georgetown, ten miles west of here early to-day Engineer â€œREDâ€ DUVAL, Fireman B. COX, and Brakeman ROSS, of one train, were killed outright and Engineer HARRY GOODALL and Fireman GEORGE MEYERS, of the other train, were probably fatally hurt. Fourteen box cars loaded with wheat together with two locomotives were tumbled over a trestle to a ravine forty feet below and were demolished. All the traffic on the Southern railway between Louisville and St. Louis has been blocked all day. Two sections of the through freight were coming east and the first section in charge of Conductor WALTER ALVIS had stopped at Duncan's to switch, leaving a â€œcutâ€ of cars on the main track. There is a heavy grade at this point and by some means the cars broke away and rolled down the track, gaining momentum at each revolution of the wheels. Just as the runaway cars were approaching the trestle, the second section, drawn by two moguls, came thundering over the hill and the crash occurred a moment later. The cars piled on the locomotive and all went down in the ravine in a heap. Both DUVAL and COX went down with their locomotives. ROSS was on one of the runaway cars and was crushed beneath it. Engineer GOODALL and Fireman MYERS in charge of the other locomotive jumped and saved their lives, although they may yet die. Conductor LEWIS and Brakeman JOHN BURNS, of the second section jumped and escaped serious injury. DUVAL'S body was taken to his home in Louisville and that of ROSS was sent to Milltown, Ind., his home. COX'S remains were sent to Princeton, where his relatives reside. DUVAL had been married but a few days ago. The loss to the railroad company will
amount to about $75,000.
Engineers GOODALL and DUVAL, Fireman COX, Brakeman ROSS, and MYERS, were buried in the debris. There was great difficulty in extricating MEYERS and his voice could be heard for hours before he was removed. COX, ROSS and DUVAL were dead when found. GOODALL'S right shoulder and head were badly mashed. Fireman MEYERS was not seriously hurt. Brakeman OSBORNE was supposed to have been on the cut off cars.

[Transcriber note: The spelling of MYERS or MEYERS is shown as it appears in the article]